Differential liquid-level apparatus.



I E. P. NOY-ES,

DIFFERENTIAL LIQUID LEVEL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 30, 1907.

909,206. Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

. normally on the condensation princi UNITED snares PATENT clarion.

EDWARD P. NOYES, or

WINCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, essrcuoa 'ro CHARLES r. BROWN,

TRUSTEE, or READING, MASSACHUSETTS.

DTFFERENTIAL LIQUID-LEVEL APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be-it known that I, EDWARD P. Norns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Winchester, in the county of Middlesex and described'in Reeve and Noyes patent No.

834,143, the operation of which depends upon t e of t e steam or other pressure fluid from that one of the two differential-pressure chambers which is closed off from the boiler or other pressure vessel by the rise of the li, uid above normal level. The rbleasev lve in controllers of this nature requires to be adjusted to a very small opening and heretofore has been somewhat subject, to clogging which in practice was relieved by occasionally opening the valve by liar rd to blow out the sediment.

It is, the princi al object of the present invention to ren er the relief-valve automatic in operation and to secure greater reliability of performance as well as less of attendance. This object isac necessit complis ed by making the valve subject to thermostatic control and I also make it adjustable b hand with the further object of enabling t e controller at times to 0 eraite e, t e pressure being'reduced in the variabl -pressure chamber at times of su I r-norm'al water level by condensation of th: steam in said chamber. The valve then only opens when the thermostat is cool,'as for example when air is present, and the a paratus is then automatically prevented mmbecoming airbound.

, A further object is to better protect the differential septum and also permit it to be disabled whenever desired, by a simple manipulation.

0f the accompanying drawings, Figure 1- "represents a vertical sectional view of an automatic boiler-feeder provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 re resents an enlarged sectional view of t e thermostatic valvemechamsm.

.Inthe drawings, 10 represents a steam boiler having a normal water-line level at we and 11 represents a water-column tube Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 30, 1907. Serial No. 390,726.

principleof releasing a small quantity Patented Jan. 12, 1909 constituting the main vertical casing of the controller and connected with the boiler 10 above and below the water line by means of pipes 12, 13. The interior of this casing up to a partition 14 constitutes a chamber containing the constant steam pressure of the boiler, and above said partition is a variablepressure chamber 15 from which a tube 16 extends downwardly to the normal waterline level whereby its lower end is alternately sealed and unsealed by the Water fluctuating slightly above and below normal level.

17 is the feed-controlling pi e which may be the direct feed-pipe to the oiler, and 18 is a feed-valve in said ipe which may be a direct feed-throttle. .lhe stem 19 of said ,valve extends through a bearing 20 into the 'casin of a difierential septum or diaphragm 21, t e latterhaving chambers 22 and 23 above and below it. i

24 is/a" pipe leading from the interior of the diaphragm-chamber 23 and adapted to contain a column of water which transmits the constant boiler-pressure to chamber 23 so as -to act in an upward direction on the diaphragm. 25 is a second pipe connecting the variable-pressure chamber 15 with the upper diaphragm-chamber 22 and adapted to contain a water column which transmits the variable pressure of chamber 15 to diaphragm chamber 22 so as to act in a down- Ward direction on the diaphragm. The pipes 24, 25 contain capacity pots 26,27 near their upper ends to allow for the movements of the diaphragm without substantial variation of the water heads in said pipes. The water- 'columns serve to protect the diaphragm from the direct action of steam oroi the hottest boiler water.

It will be seenthat should the water level in the boiler reside below the inlet of tube 16 the steam pressure will have access to both water columns in the respective pipes 24,. 25, and the feed valve 18 will remain 0 en in a depressed position because of its weig 1t and the preponderant water head in pipe 25 acting downwardly like an additional spring or weight. The water-feed, adjusted in excess of the boiler demand, continues until the boiler water rises to cover the inlet of tube 16, whereupon the chamber 1 5 becomes sealed and any ensuing reduction of pressure caused by condensation or release of the coning to take the when ward pressure on diaphragm 22 and the feedvalve 18 tends to close by the preponderance of upward pressure from the boiler transmitted through pipe 24. Boiler water rises in tube 16 'as a measure of the differential pressure thus created and also tends .to make up the loss of pressure in chamber 15 by risplace of that portion of the steam-pressure which has disappeared by escape or condensation. The body of steam in the chamber 15' and connections acts like a sprin which loses some of its elasticity the tube 16 becomes lugged with water, and the water-plug wiich rises in said tube acts like a s ring-follower, whose weight is subtracted from the total force acting downwardly on the diaphragm, thus giving the differential operating pressure which raises the diaphragm. The height of tube 16 and the length w ich the water-plug is permittedto assume determines the maximum efiective operating pressure which can be attained. Hence it is always desirable to maintain perfect freedom for the movements of the water-plug. Air orv other non-condensable gas present with the steam acts like a stiffener for the fluid spring in chamber-15 and connections, whose presence obstructs the rise of the'water-plug and retards the condensing action.

In accordance with my present invention I provide a pressure-relief irom the variable,

pressure chamber 15 subject to control by any suitable formofthermostatic device,

and I further make'the relief-valve adjustable within the limits of this control so that it may either close fully and'make the apparatus normally operative by condensation but able to automatically clear itself'of air, or the valve may be adjusted to never closeentirely but leave at all times'a small release which, added to the condensing efl'ect,

secures a more rapid reduction of pressure in the chamber 15 when the latter is sealed, or this-constant release may on occasion serve as the sole or reduction as wien tie pressure fluid isa mixture of steam and fixed gases or com, The

posed solely of non-condensable gases. controller is thereby rendered practically universal in its application to pressure vessels containing a fluctuating liquid and elasand the upper end of the tube has a guide plate 33 mounted to slide on the rods. 34 is the needle release-valve whose stem has a boss, 35 normally pressed by a spring 36 a large rinci al means of pressure against the bottom of a hollow thimble 37' constituting a valve adjuster. This ad'uster is screwed into the upper yoke 32 an provided with a check-nut 38'; .The upper end of the valve stem slides freely in a springadjuster 39- which screws into the valve-adjuster 37 and has-a check-nut 40. tube 28 is hot from the presence of steam it upper end moves toward the valve 34 and by suitable adjustment of the thimble 37 the When the I valve seat on the tube may-be caused to meet the valve and shut ofl any escape from chamber 15. Pressure reduction in-saidchamber when water-sealed is then effected'normally by condensation of steam and the valve only open when the. tube is very pool, whic migh be caused by the presence of air or by the cloggin of the orifice-which wouldlead in time to the accumulation of air. Any expansion of tube 28 beyond the meeting point of the valve and its seat is accommodated by the sprin 36 without. producing undue strains. %n the other hand, the thimble 37 may be adjusted so that normally, even when hot, the thermostatic tube 28 does notmeet the valve 34, and in this case a small release is always'provided for the esca e of perms nent gases which may normally e present in proportion with steam or may consti tute t e sole pressure'fiuid. The amount of opening of the valve will then vary with the tern erature of the thermostatic tube which. con uces to regularityof operation and tends to dislodge any sediment which may ccumulate in the escape orifice. v

In addition to the above-named elements I prefer to provide the circulating-pipe 41 leadingfrom the-interior of the thermostattube' 28 to a suitable cold point of the boiler, such as the mud-drum 42." In-thejabsence of this pipe there is a tendency when the boileris nearly cold oris bein started up ar'ter standing over ni ht with anked-fire's, for comparatively I col tube 16 and dri out of the escape orifice 29.

water to-rise in' the This is especial y noticeable-when the water levelhas been carried above normal overy night as is the usual practice, and the'escape f water continues until the hot boiler-water v orifice. By the rovisionof pipe 41 a.circu'- has'reachedthe thermostat and closed the lation is rovide for the comparatively cold and be replaced by hotter water which will quickly expand the thermostat and thus I avoid the drip and the loss of water and heat.

As a measure for disabling the automatic feed-valve 18 and permitting the boiler level water w iereby it may return to the boiler to be carried above normal at ni ht (by manip'ulating a sup lementa han feed-valve or otherwise) an also to al ow priming of the pipes 24, 25 in order to keep the water-columns replenished, I provide a by: ass between the ipes 24, 25, consisting 0 a pipe-' loop 43 w rose branches are shown as con-.

,24, 25 then tend to equalize at the level of the ceases nected into the upper and lower diaphragm chambers 22, 23 and provided with stop valves 44, 45. Between these valves the bypass loop is connected with a source of water supply. I have shown two such connections, 1 one by means of a pipe 46 ta ped into the 5 main feed-pipe 17 and containing a stop-- valve 47, and the other by means of a similar pipe' 48 leading from some other source of 1 water supply and containing a stop-valve 49 It is desirable to keep the diaphragm 21 a;. cool as possible and when the main feed-pipe 17 is connected with a feed-water heater the water columns are preferably replenished from the pipe 48. Otherwise the pipe may be used. To disable the controller, 1 valves 47 and 49 are closed and valves 44 and 45 are opened. The water columns in pipes l l i l l l summit of pipe 24 so long as the boiler level is below the line wx1and the tube 16 unsealed. The feed-valve 18 then descends and remains open by its own weight. It still remains open though thetube 16 becomes sealed for in that case the water rises about equally in tube 16 and pipe 25 and descends in pipe 24.

It will be understood of course that to some extent the features of my invention are capable of use independently of each other though I prefer to use both the thermostatic means and the priming means in conjunction.

I claim 1. In a liquid-level regulator, the combination of a variable-pressure chamber having an inlet subject to the liquid level, a differential motor member subject to the pressure in said chamber, an escape outlet from said chamber, and means subject to the temperature in said chamber for automatically controlling said outlet.

2. In aliquid-level regulator, the combination of a variable-pressure chamber having an inlet subject to the liquid level, a differentialmotor member subject to the pressure in said chamber, an escape outlet from the upper part. of said chamber, a valve controlling said outlet,,and a thermostat exposed to the interior of said chamber for actuating the valve.

3. In combination, a liquid-level regulator including a differential pressure-actuated motor septum, a variableressure chamber associated therewith and l iaving an inlet sealed and unsealed by the fluctuating liquid, an j elastic-fluid outlet from said chamber, a 1

' pressure chamber of thermostat subject to the temperature in said chamber, valve controlled by the thermostat and controlling said outlet, and means for independently regula ng at will the position of the valve with respect ts said outlet.

4. A relief device for regulators comprising the adapted for connect d flerentiahpressure rmostatic tube 85 i the variable i +0 and havng an escape-outlet at its free end, a support attached to the fixed end of the tube, a valve- Y juster mounted said support, a valve led by said adjuster and controlling said outlet, and a spring inter. 'sed between said valve and valve-adjuster to permit relative movement between the two after the thermostat has closed the escape-outlet.

5. The combination of a steam boiler, differential feed-controlling motor-memhe, a variable-pressure chamber associated wi said member and having an inlet at the normal. water-line level and an escape outlet, 10 a thermostat controlling said outlet and ex posed. to the temperature of said chamber, and a circulating conduit connecting with the variable-pressure chamber at a point anterior t0 the escape outlet and returnim to the boiler.

6. The combination with a boiler, of a ferential feed controlling septum, a var )rcssure chamber controlled by the w level, water-column pipes connecting. W'l the boiler and with said variable-pressure chamber respectively and leading to 0})j15 site sides of the diaphragm, and connect' s for priming said pipes from a source of way supply external to the boiler.

7. The combination with a boiler, of a diz ferential feed-controlling septum, a variable ressure chamber controlled by the water evcl, water-column pipes connecting with the boiler-and with said variable-pressure 1:") chamber respectively and leading to opp-o site sides of the diaphragm, and priming pipes forming a loop connecting said watercolumn pipes and having stop-valves and a water-supply pipe connected with said loop EDWARD P. NOYES.

Witnesses:

E. BATcnnLDEn, ARTHUR H. Bnown. 

